Dermestidae carpet beetle larva

6089    Hello.  We have been noticing more and more of these popping up in our home. I live in barrie ontario and these photos were taken in July 2017.    They are indoors in the kitchen. I find one or two everyday. Today was the last draw as I found one in my lunch bag. It’s pretty hot out lately. I see them during the day and at night.   Thanks for your help.  Andrew

This is a larva of a beetle in the family Dermestidae (carpet/skin/hide/larder beetles and allies). I cannot tell for certain whether it has two sharp curved ‘spines’ (urogomphi) at the end of its abdomen; if it does, it is in the genus Dermestes (larder beetles), if it does not, it likely would be in the genus Attagenus (black carpet beetle and relatives). Either of these can infest a wide variety of organic materials, including dry stored food products, so you should carefully check all your food storage areas for signs of infestation. See https://tinyurl.com/zl9w25c elsewhere on this site for some control recommendations.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.